care to share?

I hope all of my readers had a very nice Christmas season! This is a special time of year, and I wish nothing but the best for you and your families.

What were some of your favorite gifts, either to give or get?

Merry Christmas!

Sorry for the lack of posting at Penguin's Gift. Life has gotten in the way. I've been overwhelmed with everyday things and Christmas preparations.

I promise to be back in full swing in the new year. And I'm hoping to bring a new look to Penguin's Gift as well!

Amaryllis bulbs at Target

Target has these Smith and Hawkins bulb kits for just $7 this week (regularly $10). They have a good selection of pot colors to fit many decors (red, white, black, silver). This would be a great little gift for so many - teachers, coworkers, neighbors, babysitters.

Amaryllis are very hearty and grow easily. Place where the bulb will get a fair amount of light and water as directed. Easy, and a big, beautiful flowering gift!

Wine Wraps

A set of wine tags caught my eye a few weeks ago. I thought it would be a great way to personalize a bottle of wine for gift giving this holiday. But the price didn't make me happy.

I know, there are tons of wine bags out there now but they just aren't practical in my mind. Yes, fabric wine bags are super cute. But I lose them in my wrapping box of paper and often forget I even have some to 're-gift'.

Then I saw these from Garnet Hill - self adhesive wine wraps that you can personalize and a little gift tag to match. $15 for a set of 12, plus $4.95 shipping, making each set just $1.67 each. That is a price that makes me happy!

Inexpensive Gift Ideas

Check out my guest blog here at Sara the Savvy Shopper.

Be sure to frequent Sara's blog for amazing deals and couponing. I ♥ her weekly Target sale updates.

Mini Stockings

I was searching for small stockings this year. Basically what I found were just two sizes, regular and ornament. I wanted something bigger than an ornament but much smaller than the typical stockings.
Then I found these mini stockings at Meghan Designs' etsy shop. ♥ They are the size I was looking for, and totally adorable! I was so excited when I received my order I had to give them to my parents right away. There was no waiting until Christmas for these cuties.
At $6 each they would be a great final touch to many Christmas gifts.
Check out Meghan Designs' other Holiday items also!

request from T

Engagement gifts were requested by T ... and I've been struggling with ideas. Here is what I have to share:

• Photo session. I happen to know that T is an excellent photographer. Offer to snap a few shots for the couple. Something that reflects their personalities in a setting they are comfortable. Edit and frame one, or two!
• This personalized love print from HopeInk's etys shop for $40 (they are offering a free second print of your choice with the code 'merry christmas'). The print being 12" square gives it a funky feel. Someone recently told me they had great luck finding 12*12 frames at Ikea.
• Silver plated wine stoppers engraved with his last initial from Red Envelope here for $30.
• A Vermont Wish Bowl here (scroll down to the smaller sizes at the bottom).
• Personalized folded note cards with the groom- and bride-to-be's first names (for all the shower & wedding thank-yous). I try to stay away from flowers and hearts, so how about this set of apples and pears from expressionery.com (remember there is a 40% off code).
• The Bride's Book of Lists found here at Amazon. And a nice bottle of wine, or two!

request from J

J requested gift ideas for her mother also ... here goes:

• Flamenco felt scarves here from Felt Inspired's Etsy shop. Pricey at $69 but they look stunning! (credit to a FB friend Christy for sharing this etsy site on her page)
• Hearthside slippers from LLBean here for $35. I think the cornflower blue with lime green trim is super fun!
• 'We believe in Santa Claus' sign here from BlueEyedGirl's Etsy shop for $26.
• Linen tote with vintage lace here from A Green Elephant's Etsy shop for $20.
• Nantucket Open-House Cookbook here from Amazon for under$11.
• Pom Pom Earrings in Peruvian Rhodocrosite here from Catie'sBlue Etsy shop for $36.
• Irish coffee mugs with snowflakes here from daydreemdesign's Etsy shop for $$28.50.
• Leather key chain in orange here from Lands End for $15.

Canvas and patent leather tote

Get this super fun bag from Lands End for only $15, down from $50. I'm thinking this would be a great gift with a little notepad inside - perfect for teachers! Available in berry, black and orange.

Really, someone please buy this! I need to live vicariously through you ...

With a little search you're sure to find a promotion code for free shipping!

request from V

V asked for gift ideas for her mother. Here goes ...

~A reading log/journal to keep track of the books she is reading or wants to read, when books are due back to the library, and thoughts on things she has read. This is a beautiful red, and compact, journal for $8 from Amazon here.

~Nothing like cozy pajamas with fleece bottoms and a comfy t-shirt like top to get us through the cold winter. From Target for $22 here.

~Personalized list memo pad (or regular memo pad) from Expressionery.com. I like this design. Set of two for $25 less 40% (and free shipping) with promotion code holiday09.

~Solid FeelGood scarf from Lands End in warm violet ;) here for under $30.

~For the love of pineapples! (all from etsy)

1. Pineapple earrings here for $10.
2. Pineapple inspired bookmark here for $8
3. Printed pineapple hand towels here for $18
4. Reusable oilcloth sandwich/snack bags in pink pineapple trio here for $10
5. The cutest pineapple necklace here for $10

~Body soap in a yummy, yummy flavor from Verbena Custom Blends etsy shop here ($12).

Christmas Trees

During our reception one of our guests whispered in my ear "We don't have your gift yet, I want to get you guys something I wish someone would have given to us but I can't buy it yet."

A few weeks later we received the gift (we were married in early October) from this couple. I was so curious about what it could be --- Christmas tree decorations! A sweet note inside told the story of how this couple wanted us to have a beautifully decorated tree for our first Christmas together.

I'm sharing this story with you because I don't want you to overlook the people on your gift list that might be in need of some Christmas decorations themselves. Not just the newly married couple like we were but others like the college graduate in their first apartment or the dorm room kids.

A friend shared the link to A Green Elephant's etsy shop and these adorable fabric trees. I fell in love with them. They are a great Christmas decoration for so many reasons, not just because they are super cute! Storing these will be a breeze and they will move well also. Theses cute Christmas trees are versatile too because you can display them just about anywhere in your house - mantle, table, cabinet, self, etc.

Place these trees in just about any room to add a little Christmas cheer - guest room, small hallway table, bathroom, kids room, nursery (but keep them out of reach of the little ones!).

You can find A Green Elephant's set of three Christmas trees here for $15 (plus shipping).

daily thought from Real Simple

Every gift which is given, even though it be small, is in reality great, if it is given with affection.”

―Pindar

from here. ♥

My Very Own House

My parents gave a cardboard house (similar to the one pictured above) to my children for Halloween. The house has become an instant hit!
It seems crazy to *buy* a big cardboard box. That is exactly what my husband thought when he saw the gift. But my children have enjoyed this box so, so much. Not just because they can color and draw on it to make it their own. But because its a great house to play inside. Also a great idea as we enter the winter months when we'll be spending lots of time inside playing.
The best part for me is that when we are done with this toy the entire thing can be recycled. Guilt free disposal of a toy that is past its prime is awesome!
Find it here at Target.com for $19.99. Be sure to check out the free shipping deals offered by Target during the holidays.

GrandLoving

I gave this book to my mother the Christmas before I had my second daughter. GrandLoving has so many fun ideas and things to do with children that it really shouldn't be limited to grandparents! This book includes ideas to do even when you are separated from your grandchild by hundreds of miles.

Whether its their first grandchild or sixth (as with my parents) this book will offer a grandparent lots of new ideas on how to make lasting memories with the little people in their lives.

Find GrandLoving here at Amazon for under $15.

Melissa & Doug giveaway at Pumpkin Petunia's blog

Head over to PumpkinPetunia's blog and enter to win a wonderful Melissa & Doug giveaway.

Four, yes FOUR, Melissa & Doug craft kits perfect for gift giving!

Tween Scene Necklace

Just last week I purchased this necklace (for our younger niece) and love it so much I had to share! A great gift idea for the tweens on your list, the girls between 8 and 13.

The designers at vmdesigns decoupage Scrabble-sized tiles with fun and hip papers then personalize it with an initial, seal it up and add a Swarovski crystal for a little more flash. They string the pendent on three colorful ribbons that are tied in the back so the girls can adjust the length of the necklace themselves. The final product is too cute! And each necklace comes packaged in a little truffle box ready for gifting.

The Tween Scene necklace can be paired up with a number of other gifts ideas for the little girls ...

~Gift card to their favorite store or mall

~iTunes gift card

~Fun stationary or notepad

~Book(s)

We are giving our niece a set of Junie B. Jones books along with her necklace.

The price is great too! Just $9.50 plus shipping. Check out the necklace pictured above here at vmdesign's etsy shop and be sure to look around at the other funky styles.

now taking requests ...

I'm just about done with my Christmas shopping. A few gift-ees left on the list and I have an idea or two for each of them. If you could rewind to five or ten years ago you would find me completely done by December 1st. My Thanksgiving morning tradition was to address our Christmas cards. Oh how children change our lives ...

Do you still have a few people to buy for? Need some ideas? Inspiration? Let me help! It is easier for me to find fun gifts if I have someone in mind.

Either comment below or email me with a few details of the person/people you have left on your Christmas list. I would love to help!

Snowflake Wreath

Quite a few years ago my husband's sister and her family sent us a holiday wreath in the weeks before Christmas. The wreath is gone after hanging in our home many, many Christmas seasons but it remains my favorite gift. I loved that we got to enjoy its beauty during the weeks and days before the big holiday. And each time we glanced at the wreath we thought of our loving family that sent it to us.

Here is the Snowflake Wreath offered by Garnet Hill. This wreath caught my eye because of its unique shape, yet it still has the traditional greens and berries for Christmas.

Its priced at $68 (plus shipping).

happy thankgiving

My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving.
Maybe its because Thanksgiving is also my mother's favorite holiday.
Maybe its because Thanksgiving is the holiday in which we focus on what we have, and not the 'gifts' that follow the other two big holidays (ironic coming from the woman who loves to shop for gifts!).
Maybe its because Thanksgiving brings us yummy food all.day.long.
Maybe its because Thanksgiving ends with football viewing.

What I am thankful for this year are no different than in years past. I am very lucky to have a wonderful husband. On our wedding day I loved him so much, yet I had no idea how much that love could grow as we build a life and family together. I have two daughters that I am blessed to share each day. Even when they push me to the edge I simply look into their beautiful blue eyes and remember how special they are to me and the world around us. My immediate and extended family mean so much to me. There is no better way to spend this holiday, or any holiday/celebration, then with family. My dear friends, the ones I get to see often and those scattered around the world with whom I share an online community. They help me to be a better person, a better mother, a better wife. I am so grateful for all the wonderful people I have in my life.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Shopper

There are three important words to describe this reusable bag from Garnet Hill - large, lightweight, and pouch. Oh, and one more phrase - free monogramming until tomorrow, November 24!

I have two reusable bags (that fold into its own pouch) that I keep in my purse at all times. The convenience of carrying them in my purse means I use them ten times more often than if I have to remember to bring them into the store.

Personalize the red bag with a last name initial and stuff it with your loved one's gifts. No wrapping paper needed!

Find this bag here for just $10 and free monogramming on solid colors until tomorrow.

Waiting for Twilight

This is how I pictured the trees behind Bella's house.

This is a TTV (through the viewfinder) photograph so it has some 'character' which I think adds to the charm of the picture. At 5*5 this photo is the perfect size for displaying on a desk. Pickup a 5*5 frame and this lovely picture, and you have a really cool gift for any Twilight fan.

Find this photograph here at Aral33 Photography's etsy shop for $15 (plus shipping).

Twilight Bookmark

We all have to move on from The Twilight Saga and read books that don't include Edward, Bella, and Jacob. If you have a Twilight junkie on your gift list then this bookmark from motherrap on etsy is perfect.

Pair it with a gift card from a book store. And a gentle nod that yes, its okay to read fiction about events that take place outside of Forks, Washington. But remind the recipient that when its time to re-read the four books about Edward, Bella, and Jacob this bookmark is ideal to mark your page!

Find it here for just $6 (plus shipping).

Twilight Notebook

How beautiful is this notebook?! Only another Twilight fan will know that the question 'Do I dazzle you?' comes from Edward. Stay close to your love for The Twilight Saga by using this notebook to keep track of just about anything - holiday planner, gift lists, journals, meal planning, memorable moments, etc.

This notebook, by Pink_Trailer_Designs, is 5" by 7" with 100 lined pages inside. It also includes a large envelope for storage of smaller notes and a bookmark. Find it here on etsy for just $12 (plus shipping).

Forks Washington Shirt

Show your love for the town of Forks, WA!

Oh my, wouldn't this be the best shirt to wear to the movie? Bright red ink on a white shirt - it couldn't get more Twilight than that.

Forks is the cozy little town that Bella, Jacob, and the Cullen family call home. The town that somehow ignores the signs of a few of its residents being vampires and werewolves.

Find this cool shirt here at CramCreative for $16.95 and get FREE SHIPPING (US, or $4 off international shipping) when you type Penguin's Gift into the message to seller.

Twilight Apple Pendant

I love the pendants offered by PrettyWhimsical, particularly the Twilight inspired ones!

The apple pendant pictured above caught my eye first. I think this one is really cool with the red apple against the black lettering and background. Its the perfect font match to the Twilight Saga cover fonts.

You can find this and other fun Twilight pendants at PrettyWhimsical for $6.95 (plus shipping). And don't forget the snake chain for just $5.

Twilight week!

About this time last year I was knee deep in The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer. I was the crazy lady reading at red lights, reading while stirring dinner, reading late into the night, basically reading at any free second I had.

I gave two Twilight books as Christmas gifts last year and both girls enjoyed the first book and went on to read the next three books. If you'd like to give the complete set to someone, its here at amazon for under $50 (a great price for four huge hardcover books). Or if you just want to just share the first book you can find Twilight at amazon for under $7.

Have someone on your gift list that has read the complete saga twice, seen the first movie over and over, and has a countdown to the release of the second movie New Moon? Or someone not that over the top but still just loved the books? I've got some great Twilight themed gift ideas for you this week! All classy and subtle but they each have just enough Twilight to show you are a fan.

Oh, and don't forget the second movie will be in theaters Friday, November 20!

and the winner is ...

LeAnn!

I used random.org to generate the winner. Thanks to all that participated in the GiftsIn24.com Giveaway!

last chance

... to enter the GiftsIn24.com giveaway! You have until 11pm tonight. Go here and comment if you haven't already.

The winner will be announced tomorrow morning.

Lite Brite

I love writing this blog (and I hope you love reading it!). My only problem is posting gift ideas I haven't given yet. Like the lampwork bead earlier this week, I purchased that TWO months before my sister's birthday but had to keep it hush-hush until now. The good thing is my kids don't read Penguin's Gift so I can share their gifts before they open anything!

A friend posted about Lite Brite over the summer and its been on my daughter's Christmas list ever since. Oh, you know the Christmas list that *I* write for her because they are the things she really can play with. Not the Ah-Choo baby she sees on TV (insert eye roll) although I'm afraid one of those might make it into this house before the year is over.

I found it at Target for $10, and I've read online that you can also get it at Walmart for the same price. Its around the Play-doh and Pixos in the toy department. The Lite Brite would be a great gift idea for the classmate birthday parties or a little surprise on rainy/snowy days this winter.

amazing frames at Target this week

If you were planning to buy some prints as gifts and like black frames then get yourself to Target asap! The black frame pictured above is on sale this week - 11*14 and 10*13 (I think) for $9 , 5*7 and 8*10 for only $6.

You can get more details at the Target website. In my Target the frames were featured on an end display in the Home Decor department.

These frames would work great for the Our Family print here and the Silhouette print here.

Gleek

I *heart* the new comedy on Fox, Glee. Glee, and Hank on ABC, make my Wednesday night full of laughs! What more could a girl ask for on a Wednesday night? So when I saw the volume 1 CD for Season one of Glee for pre-order at Amazon I had to scoop it up! It arrived last week and hasn't left my car CD player since.

Do you have any Glee fans on your gift list? I'm sure they would love this CD. And, volume 2 will be released on December 8! Or you could pre-order the first half of Season one on DVD here, it will be released on December 28. Remember you get Amazon's pre-order price guarantee!

Volume 1 can be found at Amazon here.

Lampwork Bead

So I've shared with you my lack of designer handbag knowledge before. I have something else to admit to ... not catching the Pandora bracelet train (gasp!). My sister and lots of my friends have Pandora bracelets, and a few have a necklace or a second bracelet. I have so much fun looking at each charm and hearing the story of how she got it or why its meaningful to her.

I purchased a beautiful opal and brown lampwork bead from BrendanBlakeGlassArt for my sister as a birthday present. She loves it. Another great gift giving sucess!

To see more of the Pandora and Troll-like beads from BrendanBlakeGlassArt go here. The beautiful beads are all under $18 (plus shipping) and add lovely color to any collector's bracelet or necklace.

GiftsIn24.com - and a GIVEAWAY!

I don't remember how I found GiftsIn24.com but I am so thankful to whomever shared the link with me! I've purchased many gifts for others and my family from their website, and everyone has been pleased with the personalized stationary.

There are so many occasions and recipients for stationary that the ideas are almost a long as your gift list. Here are three of my favorites:

~For the Tween girl - note cards with just her first name on the front like this.

~For the newly married couple - note cards with their married monogram (his first initial, last initial, her first initial). I love this style!

~For the couple with a new baby - note cards with 'The Jones Family' embossed on the front of a classic style card like this one.

The last one has to be my favorite gift I've given from GiftsIn24.com. Oh, so many fun gift ideas!

I really love this site - can you tell? Don't forget to follow this and other favorite websites on Facebook and Twitter! Its great to be one of the firsts to know about promotions and new products. Here are two quick links to become a fan of GiftsIn24.com on Facebook and Twitter.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay, now for the GIVEAWAY! Yay! GiftsIn24.com has generously offered one of the Penguin's Gift readers a set of 50 Traditional Monogram Notes (pictured above and details here) with a return address up to three lines. Wow! That is a $53.95 value.

To enter the Giveaway simply leave a comment on this post. Please be sure to include your contact information if it's not easily accessible on your profile or blog.

This Giveaway ends at 11:00 pm EST on Thursday, November 12, 2009.

so excited!

Penguin's Gift will have its first ever GIVEAWAY beginning tomorrow!

The lucky winner can treat themselves or have an great gift for someone on their gift list.

Advent Calendar Garland

How cute is this Advent garland! As you count down the days to Christmas turn over the little boxes to reveal the message 'Merry Christmas'. The decorative papers used to cover the boxes are beautiful!

At six foot long this garland is perfect for hanging on a mantle, buffet, or bureau. The little boxes are just big enough for your little Advent notes, candy, stickers, etc.

You can find the Advent Calendar Garland ($36 plus shipping) at Merry Matchboxes Etsy shop.

Whimsical Advent Calendar

The beautiful scrapbook paper got me on this Advent calendar from DabberDoo. I love how not every box is numbered and the embellishments look so pretty. Each drawer is just 1.5 inches square so its just right for little notes and surprises each day as you countdown to Christmas!

You can find DabberDoo's Whimsical Advent Calendar here for $33.95 plus shipping. While you are there also check out the JOY wooden blocks!

Magnetic Advent Calendar

This is another one of my favorite finds on etsy - A New Patina's magnetic Advent calendar. What a beautiful way to count down the days until Christmas! The tree is made of metal sheeting covered in beautiful paper (the bottom square is almost like the tree skirt). Count down the number of days until Christmas by moving the small numbered magnetic ornaments to decorate the tree. The last magnet is a vintage jewel star!

The bonus of this Advent Calendar - it folds up for easy storage.

Check out this calendar and other amazing Christmas decorating (and gift ideas) at A New Patina.

LEGO Advent Calendar

This looks like a fun way to share the Christmas countdown with the younger guys in your house. Each day you can create a new little LEGO set together while enjoying the excitement of the season. The 2009 edition includes some new Christmas items such as a snowman and sled - FUN!

The LEGO Advent Calendar is just $29.99 here at amazon.com.

Holiday House Advent Calendar

How cute is this Holiday House Advent Calendar from Pretty Swank?! I love how it is very much a Christmas decoration but isn't screaming CHRISTMAS like some of the other calendars out there. Fun and classic at the same time.

Are you brave, I mean crafty, enough to make on yourself? Pretty Swank offers PDF instructions of two of their other Advent calendars (which are also super cute - funky numbers and French house) at the Etsy site also.

You can find this lovely Advent calendar here for just $32 (plus shipping).

Christmas Countdown week!

I know, Halloween was just yesterday. I was among those headed to Target this morning to grab the discounted decorations and costumes for next year. But remember that Thanksgiving is just 25 days away ... and with a late turkey day that means Christmas isn't that far away either.

This week Penguin's Gift is sharing some Christmas Countdown ideas, also known as Advent Calendars. These are great gift ideas too! One of my favorite Christmas gifts was one that my SIL gave me weeks ahead of Christmas day (I'll share more about that gift idea later).

So keep your mind open to those on your Christmas list that might enjoy one of these calendars as an early gift this year.

Bookworm

Got a bookworm on your gift list? Whether that person is big or small, I have the perfect gift idea for you!

First, visit expressionery.com and look over their BookPlateLabels. So fun! They have designs for children, men and women, and each set is personalized. Want to know the best part? Use the promotion code holiday09 and receive 40% off and free shipping. That makes each set of 32 Book Plates under $13!

Second, get yourself to Barnes_&_Noble for a gift card and you are done. Perfectly personalized and affordable gift any bookworm is sure to love!

The expressionery.com promotion code is good for just about any of the products on their site and expires January 31, 2010.

Sea Glass Wish Necklace

I've told you about the Silhouette Prints from Pumpkin_Petunia, but here is something special for the women on your gift list - Sea Glass Wish Necklace!

These cute little necklaces would be perfect for the beach-loving woman, or girl, or tween. A simple way to remind someone of the beauty of the ocean. And give them hope that summer and warmer weather will return again!

Sea Glass Wish Necklaces can be found here, choose from Kelly Green, Sea Green, and White. At just $20 (plus shipping) they are a fun and affordable gift!

Thanksgiving Tree Leaves

Last week I was searching around Etsy and found these Thanksgiving Tree Leaves from Between Hitching Posts. Aren't they the best? Each leaf has a blessing to be thankful for on the back with burlap, and fall-ish cotton fabric on the front. A link to the directions for making the wooden tree can be found on Between Hitching Posts etsy page also.

You can purchase the leaves in bundles of five for $7.50 or all 25 blessing for just $30 (plus shipping) here.

This would be a wonderful gift for the hostess of your Thanksgiving dinner. Or that someone on your gift list that just *loves* Thanksgiving. It would also be a great family gift to yourself. These Thanksgiving Tree Leaves can be the start of a tradition of November gratitude and make lasting memories for a family.

great deal on kids play blocks

I've told you about Craft-E-Family before. Now they are featuring their Kids Play Blocks for just $16 with free shipping! The blocks come in six different themes and look super-cute.
This would be a great Christmas gift for an infant or toddler. It would also make a great birth or first birthday gift.
At this price stock up on one or two sets to have on hand!
Craft_E_Family

Hola Baby

Looking for something fresh and new? Check out the Spanish Tees by Hola Baby. I'm in love with the Campeon/Champion tee pictured above. So fun for little boys! Really, what little boy doesn't think of himself as a champion?!?

Even if you aren't fluent in Spanish most likely the little person on your gift list knows a good amount of words in Spanish. I know the mainstream cartoons have refreshed my Spanish vocabulary.

Campion/Chapion tee comes in sizes 2T, 3T, and 4T for just $18 plus shipping.

Find lots of fun Spanish tees and onesies for boy and girls from Hola Baby here!

Candyland

You can't go wrong with a classic board game like Candyland! So simple, yet often overlooked. A classic amoung the high-tech games available for kids.

My family has had so many fun times playing Candyland. We even help our younger daughter play, although the rules are fairly simple for those who can count and recognize colors ;).

You can find Candyland at Target or Amazon for around $10.

Pretty Pretty Princess

My daughters aren't into the Disney Princesses (although they know all of their names). I would say they aren't overly girly but they do *love* playing the Pretty Pretty Princess game. Could it be the fun earrings? Maybe the bracelets and necklaces? Or the crown?

As you travel around the game board you collect the jewels that match your color. If you collect all of your jewels and the crown you WIN. Really, collecting and wearing the jewels is just as much fun as actually winning!

There are a few different versions of Pretty Pretty Princess (we have the Cinderella). You can find the Sleeping Beauty one pictured above at Amazon for under $15.

Cranium Cariboo

This is another favorite from Cranium! Children reinforce letter, number, shape, and color skills as they search for the hidden balls to unlock the treasure.

Cranium_Cariboo is geared toward the younger kids, ages 3 to 8. Although I like to give this game for second birthdays, just when the birthday child is ready to play games! My daughters enjoy playing Cariboo by themselves at times, just using the purple key to open the doors in search of the hidden balls.

You can find Cranium Cariboo at Amazon for under $20.

more gaming fun!

In the spirit of Penguin's Gifts Game Night themed week check out Sara's blog. Sara has reviewed two of the Elefun and Friends games that she has played with her family. The best part - 'Sara the Savvy Shopper' is giving away *two* Elefun and Friends games here!

Be sure to check out Sara's weekly Target report also. She highlights some great finds at Target AND links to printable coupons. Sara the Savvy Shopper has been a coupon printing inspiration to me!

I'm off to print out my coupon for Elefun and Friends games right now ...

Crazy Eights Card Game

My older daughter *loves* playing Crazy Eights. And its fun for us to play with her. My younger daughter plays with us sometimes, although she is always paired with an adult to make a 'team'. There is nothing like a good old fashion card game!

I found this Kidz Cards in a Tin on Amazon. It includes the games Crazy Eights, Go Fish, War, and Old Maid. The cards looks so cute! Fours sets of cards/games in a nice storage tin (I'm all about toys/games that self store) for under $10. Any child will have lots of fun with these card games for many years to come!

Check out this card set at Amazon.

Cranium Hullabaloo

My older daughter played this game at a friend's house last spring. Then she wouldn't stop talking about it. Would NOT. So I finally broke down and bought it and gave it to her on one rainy day over the summer. After playing it myself I now understand why she couldn't stop talking about Cranium Hullabaloo because it is such a fun game!

Cranium Hullabaloo is a movement and listening game for children four and older. It can be played by just the kids or with the adults too. Jump, spin, and hop between the colored floor pieces while listening to the voice from the console give the next direction. Oh, and don't forget to do a funky dance at the end! So fun!

You can find Cranium Hullabaloo at Amazon for under $25.

Family Game Night - Oops!

Did you know that Family Game Night was September 23? I didn't! I did, however, know that September 26 was National Pancake Day AND we ate pancakes for dinner that day. Do I get an bonus mom point for that?!?

This week Penguin's Gift will focus on games for the younger kids. I'm kinda excited because this will be our first themed week. I hope to bring you more theme weeks in the months ahead.

With all the new game gift ideas you will be all set for Family Game Night in 2010!